BMW has announced the launch of a revised X3, featuring what is said to be the most powerful diesel engine ever to power a production BMW in the UK.
Due to go on sale in the UK in September, the BMW X3 now comes powered by a total of five different engines - two petrol and three diesel units.
The 'headline-grabbing' powerplant is a twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel with an output of 286hp and 580Nm of torque. This power gives the X3 3.0sd a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds and a 149mph top speed.
Completing the range of new six-cylinder engines to the X3 are a 2.5-litre 218hp petrol unit and a new 272hp 3.0-litre petrol engine. The smaller capacity engine can power the X3 from zero to 62mph in 8.5 seconds before going on to a top speed of 137mph. The higher output 3.0-litre engine reaches 62mph from zero in just 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 142mph.
The company says that, for balancing performance with economy, two other choices of engine are offered; the entry-level, 150hp 2.0-litre diesel and the existing 218hp 3.0-litre.
For the first time on a BMW X model BMW's innovative Dynamic Stability Control + (DSC+) system is fitted as standard, while another first on an X model is that the driver will now be able to select the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) function of DSC for a greater degree of wheel slip, allowing more spirited driving without the main traction control system intervening.
Prices and full specification of the new X3 will be announced before its on sale date in the autumn.
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